1961 Rambler

General Information

This is a 1961 AMC Rambler American Super. When I bought this coupe it had the original overhead cam 6 cylinder and automatic transmission. The original paint was blue and white. Nothing was done to the body to change the shape or size. The only change was the 4 inch tall scoop on the hood. The scoop is steel along with everything else. All the glass is good. The car has all the original floors, front to back. The frame comes through the floor half way to retain the unibody form. Sub-frame connectors and braces make the car strong. The car has a 10 point cage, ladder bar sub-frame, and two drive shaft safety loops. The front end is all original - drum brakes, A-arms, springs, and steering. All is in good shape. The front end modifications include 90/10 shocks, steel braided brake hoses, and limited front end travel. The engine is held in with an aluminum front plate, steel mid plate, and transmission cross member which makes the car very strong. Chevy II headers are perfect for the tight fit. The car is Kawasaki Green.

Race Times

1/8 mile on the motor is 6.812 at 100.16 m.p.h. with a 1.511 60 foot.

1/8 mile on the bottle (225 shot) is 6.142 at 112.03 m.p.h. with a 1.375 60 foot.

1/4 mile on the bottle (225 shot) is 9.580 at 136.67 m.p.h. with a 1.338 60 foot. This was on a 90 degree summer day at 12:42 p.m. Best 60 foot is 1.323 on the same day.

Dyno Test

Peak HP - 553.3 at 6900 r.p.m.

Peak torque - 462.8 at 5800 r.p.m.

From 6000 - 8000 r.p.m. the HP is over 520.

Streetability

This car runs on pump gas. Every time we go to the track it goes faster. I work 15 miles away from home and I drive the car once a week just because I can. The track is about 20 miles away and the last time we went to the track I drove the car from home to the track, heated up the bottle, went a 6.14, and drove home. It is a real car that does 3 foot wheel stands. Drive anywhere and be different! Plus, how many Ramblers need a parachute? hehehe

The Engine

A 350 Chevy bored .30 over, steel crank, billet steel main caps, 12:1 Wiseco flat top pistons, 6 inch Crower rods, Fluidampr balancer, SFI flex plate, Milodon oil pan, all ARP bolts, steel Dart Sportsman heads, 2.08/1.60 valves, 1.550 springs, titanium retainers, Comp Cams solid roller cam .660/.630 lift & 264/272 duration at .050, 106 lobe separation. Crane gold rockers 1.5, stud girdle 7/16 studs, Pro Series true roller timing set, Moroso fabricated aluminum valve covers, EDL-2999 Victor Jr intake, 1 inch carb spacer, MSD pro billet distributor (small base), 800 cfm Holley with HP Pro series metering blocks, 4 corner idle system, and 11x6 K&N air cleaner.

Cooling System

Griffen aluminum radiator, Black Magic electric fan, and Dedenbear electric water pump. The average temperature around town is 170 - 185 degrees - this car has never seen 210 degrees. The longer you sit, the cooler it gets!

Fuel System

Triangle aluminum 15 gallon fuel cell with a 0-90 OHM sending unit, BG fuel filter, Magna Flow fuel pump 400 g.p.h., #10 fuel line, steel braided line front to rear, #8 return line at pump, #6 return line from regulator to tank, a Holley regulator for carb, a Holley regulator for NOS - both have AutoMeter Ultra-Lite gauges under hood scoop. 36 psi line pressure and 6.5 psi to carb and 6 psi to NOS.

NOS System

Big Shot single plate system. Smallest pills in kit 225 HP. Never went up in jets since I was happy with 225. Carb switch, relay activation when trans brake is off NOS is on with no delay. Bottle heater and gauge. Purge.

Rear End

9 inch Ford braced inside and out., small Ford bearings, 33 spline axles (Strange), full spool, synthetic oil, 5.13 gear, drain, cap fill, Aerospace disk brakes, Aerospace, master cylinder, 5/8 studs and nuts, single wheel wheelie bar.

Transmission

Power Glide, 8 inch J.W. converter 5500 stall, fluid trns brake, Turbo Spline harden shaft, cooler with fan under rear of car, #6 steel braided line from tans to cooler. Turbo Action shifter.

Frame

Back-half Applied Racing Technology rear sub-frame, ladder bars, Hal coil over shocks, diagonal link, 10 point custom roll cage (as if you would buy one).

Exhaust

Headers are 62-67 Chevy II fender wells (coated), 1 3/4 pipe to 3 inch collector, 3.5 inch pipe (over 3 inches) at collector (no flange), under car to 3.5 inch Split Flow mufflers and turn downs.

Miscellaneous

Painless wiring kit, AutoMeter gauges (fuel level, volts, oil pressure, water temp), Dual Range Ultra-Lite 5 inch tach, ARC Pro Stock nitrous control switch panel (mounted on roll bar), line lock, MSD 6AL, Blaster 3 inch coil, Accel 300+ race wires, Power-Master XS torque starter, East Coast 100 amp alternator, low MT bracket, aluminum crank pulley, Optima battery, Flaming River remote battery disconnect kit.